Michael Sam to Speak for SPA’s Distinguished Speaker Series

Michael Sam, a University of Missouri football star who was drafted into the NFL in an early round pick, will be the first to visit Penn State as part of the Student Programming Association’s (SPA’s) distinguished speakers series.

On Tuesday, September 26 at 8 p.m. in Alumni Hall, Sam will be speaking to students, faculty, and the general public.The All-American defensive lineman played college football at the University of Missouri and was primed for an early round selection in the 2014 NFL draft. He was drafted in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL draft by the St. Louis Rams.

“I understand how big this is,” he said in the same interview. “It’s a big deal. No one has done this before. And it’s kind of a nervous process, but I know what I want to be … I want to be a football player in the NFL.”

He became one of the first openly gay men in NFL history but was nearly sidelined for owning his truth. Sam is considered a pioneer for the LGBTQ community and uses his platform to push for inclusion.

Tickets for the event are available with a valid Penn State ID in the SPA Office in 226 HUB or during SPA tabling hours. More information for the event can be found on SPA’s event page, here.